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Tom Smith

We've had plenty of musicians at the Pikes Peak Center who have never gotten the level of accolades given to Tom Smith, who, based on his recordings, totally deserves all of them. Try on this testimonial from National Traditional Country Music Association founder and president Bob Everhart: "Probably the most innovative guitarist we will ever have at our festival, this Nashville genius is emerging as a national artist of the finest quality." Tuck & Patti, Will Ackerman, Sing Out, and Dirty Linen have also praised his "somewhat Kottke-eque" acoustic fingerstyle approach. So what's he doing here? Playing Jives Coffee Lounge (16 Colbrunn Court, jivescoffeelounge.com), of course. "I like the place," says Smith. "It seems to be an old school coffeehouse... or safe haven... or something." Plus, he's paying a holiday visit to relatives up this way. Well worth catching at 7 p.m., for free, for sure. — Bill Forman